Executive Chef Ben Harris Joins Midtown Grille at North Hills in Raleigh

    RALEIGH, NC, January 21, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- General Manager of Midtown Grille at North Hills, Max Trujillo, announced today that Executive Chef Ben Harris has officially joined the team. A Raleigh native, Harris returns to the area after nearly a decade of cooking for restaurants in Charlotte, N.C.; Charleston and Hilton Head, S.C.; and New York City.

Harris found his passion as a young boy and has pursued the Executive Chef path ever since. "I have fond memories of cooking and gardening at my Grandmother's side," says Harris. "By 16, I knew I had found my passion in - and around - the kitchen." He trained at Johnson and Wales in Charlotte and was immediately hired by New South Kitchen where he expanded his talents for cooking contemporary Southern cuisine. His next move was as the Chef de Cuisine for Charleston's highly-acclaimed Poogan's Porch, which offers sophisticated Southern dishes. He left there to open Republic Garden and Lounge, located in the heart of Charleston's upper King Street district when he was sought after to open and cook for Poseidon, a coastal cuisine and popular rooftop bar in Hilton Head.

"I'm thrilled to be back home," Harris says. "Raleigh is the perfect place to raise my children and Midtown is the perfect restaurant to allow me to soar higher."

Harris has created a new unique and international menu featuring shrimp and grits, pork osso buco and duck vin cottio. "I am taking New American and classic southern flavors, combining them with new techniques and style to create robust flavor with every bite for our patrons," he says.

ABOUT MIDTOWN GRILLE
Nestled in North Hills, Raleigh, Midtown Grille is an intimate restaurant and bar that offers seasonal, locally-sourced lunch, dinner and brunch menus, a diverse wine list and sommelier on staff and hand-crafted cocktails in a casual luxe atmosphere with private and open air dining options. Established in 2006, Midtown Grille is locally-owned and relies on local North Carolina produce and meats, and prides itself on providing Southern hospitality, while combining New American and classic Southern flavors with new fusion techniques and styles.

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